Why Few Vets Say Raw Dog Food is a Good Idea

There's little evidence for the benefits of raw pet food, and it increases the risk of dangerous pathogens.

By Erica Sweeney
Dec 18, 2019 4:20 PMMay 17, 2020 10:52 PM
Pet Food
Though some pet owners tout the benefits of a raw, natural diet for their companions, there's little science to back it up. (Credit: Irina Kozorog/Shutterstock)

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As more people embrace clean-eating diets and cut out processed foods in an effort to be healthier, they’re also putting their dogs on raw food diets to help their four-legged family members achieve similar benefits.

Social media influencers and online resources, like Rodney Habib and Perfectly Rawsome, suggest raw food diets replicate how pets ate in the wild before they were domesticated and offer benefits like shinier coats, dental hygiene, improved digestion and smaller stools.

But most vets disagree, saying these claims are not backed by science.

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